Jets could surprise everyone with unexpected QB option for 2026

The New York Jets are about to embark on another franchise-shaping quarterback search, and just like in the past, the possibilities span every corner of the NFL and the upcoming draft.

The Jets would love to land one of the top prospects in the 2026 draft — Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Alabama’s Ty Simpson, or potentially Oregon’s Dante Moore — but the truth is that nothing about that landscape is guaranteed.

Players can return to school. Draft stocks can shift dramatically. And nobody knows yet whether the Jets will have a clear shot at the quarterback they actually want, even with five first-round picks over the next two years.

That’s where an unexpected name has entered the conversation. NBC Sports and Jets analyst Connor Rogers recently floated the idea that the Jets should strongly consider San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones as a realistic 2026 option.

Mac Jones is a viable bridge QB option for the Jets in 2026

It’s not exactly the type of scenario most Jets fans want to hear, but it’s one the organization may have to consider. Jones has revitalized his reputation as Brock Purdy’s backup, re-establishing himself as a viable NFL quarterback while playing on one of the most affordable contracts in the league.

The former Patriots first-rounder signed a two-year, $8.4 million deal to back up Purdy, and he’s dramatically outplayed that contract. Jones has looked far more like the poised rookie who once led New England to 10 wins, completing over 70 percent of his passes while showing he can function as a system-efficient starter.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported this week that multiple teams are expected to inquire about Jones, calling him “a starting quarterback that can win games.” He’s inexpensive. He’s experienced. And he doesn’t block the Jets from drafting a quarterback in 2026 or 2027.

The Jets’ quarterback situation is likely heading toward another reset. Justin Fields is almost certain to be released in the offseason at this stage in a move that would save the team from paying the final $10 million guaranteed on his 2027 salary.

Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey are preparing for a fresh start, and the plan has always centered around finding a long-term franchise quarterback. But even with an abundance of draft capital, the Jets don’t control who enters the draft — or where they’ll ultimately be picking.

That uncertainty is why Jones suddenly makes sense. If the Jets land Mendoza, Simpson, or Moore in April, Jones becomes a stabilizer. He's a bridge quarterback who can keep the offense functional while a rookie develops.

If the Jets miss out on the top prospects, Jones becomes a one or two-year starter while the organization loads up for the 2027 class. Either way, he offers flexibility the Jets could desperately use..

Jones would also be a far better stylistic match for Tanner Engstrand’s timing-and-rhythm-based offense than Fields ever was. Engstrand’s scheme relies on quick processing, anticipation, and consistent ball placement.

Those are all traits Jones has shown he can execute at a high level when surrounded by the right structure, as he’s proving this season in San Francisco. He’s not a top-tier quarterback, but he is an efficient one in a system built around timing, spacing, and getting the ball out quickly.

In other words, he fits the offense the Jets actually want to run, at least based on this year's play-calling and Engstrand's past in Detroit.

Kyler Murray is still viewed by some as a potential option, but trading for Murray could be a costly investment and a multi-year financial commitment. Jones is the opposite. He's a low-risk, short-term target that keeps every path open.

This won’t excite most Jets fans. They want the home-run swing, and the organization will take that swing if the board falls their way. But until the Jets know where they’ll be drafting — and who will actually declare — they can’t ignore options that give them protection at the most important position in sports.

Mac Jones isn’t the dream. But given the reality of the Jets’ situation, he might be the quarterback who buys them the time they need.